How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take?

Have you recently filed a personal injury case? It is hard sitting around waiting and wondering when the case will be over. It is already difficult enough on other cases, but when you are injured and cannot work, bills can pile up. Below you can find some helpful information, including how long it will take. Check it out for yourself!

One may be wondering when the clock starts ticking. When does the race to the finish actually start? Well, every case is unique, but there are a set of timeframes in which cases are usually resolved. It is important to start the clock once the lawsuit has been filed. Any sooner and you are just counting time that does not go toward the actual period of waiting.

What Is the Average Wait Time?

According to Larson Law, a personal injury lawyer in Springfield, MO, the answer to this question can vary greatly. Some states have a longer wait period than others. It is hard to tell when a case should be over. However, the average time for a personal injury case from start to finish is about one to two years. Remember that there are factors that can prolong that time or even shorten that wait time.

What Can Speed This Process Up?

The case will have to go through the normal waiting period. There is an average time that it takes to see a judge. However, if you are settling your case then this may speed things up a bit. Remember that the more obstacles to overcome the longer it will take. Regardless, you will still have a waiting period, just not as long.

Do not settle on something just to make the case hurry along. Make sure it is what you want in the long haul. Sometimes it is better to wait things out. This all depends on what you feel is best for your needs and specific case.

What Happens First?

To better understand how long everything will take, it is important to know what happens during a personal injury case. This will give you a better understanding of which step in the case you are at and how much farther you have to go before it is all done and over with.

Make sure that the first thing you do after seeing a doctor is file your lawsuit. If you do not do this within a certain time period, you may not be able to do it at all. Be sure to file right away. The statute of limitations can be different according to which state you are in for personal injury cases. Take a look at AllLaw.com for more information.

The next step is the discovery process. This is where each party has a chance to question the claim. Everyone will be allowed to send questions to one another regarding the case. It is also a time to bring in all evidence supporting the claim along with any witnesses. This is a long process, so expect to be here for a while. Typically, it lasts from 6 months to a year.

Get Ready to Mediate

The next step is the mediation process. This is where both parties will try to find a way to resolve the case before going to court. It is great if parties can find common ground. However, this is not always the case and at that point it will have to go to trial. If the parties can agree on a settlement, then the case will be over with quickly.

Time for Trial

If the parties cannot come to an agreement, then it is time to take the case to trial. The wait period before a trial greatly depends on which cases are before yours and how busy the courts are. At this point, it is all a waiting game. It is important to check in and see when the trial date has been set.

Please note that the waiting time for each case is unique, just as the case itself is unique. Even difficult cases are usually resolved within a couple years. The wait time is hard, especially with medical bills and other bills on the rise. Stay patient and know that there is an end to the case soon. You can check out this YouTube video for more information.